Obituary of Theodore J. Narozanick

Theodore J. Narozanick, 96, of Freehold died on Friday, September 1, 2017 at The Manor, Freehold Township. He was born in Englishtown and had resided there before moving to Freehold. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was discharged in December, 1945 with the rank of captain. He served in the U.S. First Army and Third Army during the Normandy, Northern France, Central Europe, Ardennes, and Rhineland campaigns and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon, and the American Service Medal. Upon return from his military service he opened a hardware and farm supple business in Englishtown which he operated for 15 years. He served seven years as a councilman; 12 years as mayor of the Borough of Englishtown; and nine years as a member of the Manalapan-Englishtown Board of Education. He was a member and Ex-Chief of the Englishtown Fire Company and was named an Honorary Monmouth County Fire Marshal. I n 1957 he accepted a position with the Board of Chosen Freeholders in the Department of Revenue and Finance and served as budget director and Director of Finance, Administration and Management. He was appointed as the first County Administrator in March, 1974 and served in that position for eight years. On January 2, 1986 he was sworn in as a member of the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders and served seven terms. He was liaison to the Monmouth County Library System, Police Academy and Fire Academy. From January to April of 1985 he served as a full time volunteer municipal consultant for the Manalapan Township Committee while the township sought a permanent administrator; and as a special volunteer consultant for the Howell Township Committee in 1985. He was the recipient of the Oglensky-Jackson Post No. 359, Jewish War Veterans of the United States Person of the Year Award; received a recognition from Veteran of Foreign Wars District No. 6 for contributions to the district; Brotherhood Award by the Monmouth-Ocean Counties Chapter of the National Conference of Christians and Jews; Distinguished Achievement Award from the Monmouth –Ocean Development Council; the Special Friends Award from the Monmouth Conservation Foundation; United Way of Monmouth County 25th Anniversary Award; the State of New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal; Western Monmouth Exchange Club Book of Golden Deeds Award; B’Nai B’rith Foundation of the United States Gold Medallion Award; and the Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce Government Award. He was awarded the Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow Award; White House Conference on Library and Information Task Force Local Elected Official Award; March of Dimes Franklin Award; Eastern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce Spinnaker Award; Library Champion from the New Jersey Library Champion Award; the Women’s Center of Monmouth County 1999 honoree; Korean War Veterans Association of Monmouth Chapter for his assistance with the Freehold monument dedication; State of Israel Declaration of Independence Award; and was honored by the Borough of Englishtown by naming town hall and a private roadway in his name in 2000. In 2001 New Jersey State Highway 33 By-Pass was named in his honor. He was named an honorary member of the Shrewsbury Power Squadron in 2001. Freeholder Narozanick was honored by CentraState Healthcare Foundation for 40 years of support and the garden and circular drive in front of the hospital was dedicated to him. In 2007 the Board of Freeholders honored him by naming him a Freeholder Emeritus. He was honored in 2007 by Brookdale Community College with the dedication of the World War II Studies and Conflict Resolution Room in his honor where his Armey artifacts are on display in the library. He received the Good Scout Award from the Monmouth County Boy Scouts and the Monmouth Ocean Development Council Presidents Award. He was predeceased by his wife, Margaret Narozanick, in 2007. Surviving are a daughter, Carol Vineyard; two brothers, Henry and Robert; three grandchildren; and several great grandchildren. Visiting will be held at the Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold, on Monday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and Tuesday from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Church, Freehold on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. followed by interment at the parish cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Alzheimer’s Association would be appreciated.